Minutes: Wednesday, December 11, 2024

1. That the funding adjustments detailed in Table 4 of Attachement-2 of the 2024 Third Quarter Budget Monitoring Report dated December 4, 2024, be approved.
2. That a budget adjustment of $448 thousand for PM0001 Paramedics Facility Renewal, be approved.

1. That Guelph City Council urges the Ontario government to continue to permit the operation and funding of the Guelph consumption and treatment site beyond the proposed termination date in March 2025. 
2. That Guelph City Council encourages the Ontario government to maintain, if not expand, funding for the proposed Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs.
3. That Guelph City Council encourages the Ontario Government to not take steps to prohibit the establishment of supervised consumption sites, including urgent public health needs sites (UPHNS). 
4. That this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Finance, the Health Minister, AMO and to municipalities that currently have an operating consumption and treatment service and/or supervised consumption site(s).

1. That Guelph City Council urges the Ontario government to continue to permit the operation and funding of the Guelph consumption and treatment site beyond the proposed termination date in March 2025, at least until the HART hub is fully operational.
2. That Guelph City Council encourages the Ontario government to maintain, if not expand, funding for the proposed Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs.
3. That Guelph City Council encourages the Ontario Government to not take steps to prohibit the establishment of supervised consumption sites, including urgent public health needs sites (UPHNS).
4. That this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Finance, the Health Minister, AMO and to municipalities that currently have an operating consumption and treatment service and/or supervised consumption site(s).

The clauses were asked to be voted on separately. 

1. That Guelph City Council urges the Ontario government to continue to permit the operation and funding of the Guelph consumption and treatment site beyond the proposed termination date in March 2025. 

2. That Guelph City Council encourages the Ontario government to maintain, if not expand, funding for the proposed Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs.

3. That Guelph City Council encourages the Ontario Government to not take steps to prohibit the establishment of supervised consumption sites, including urgent public health needs sites (UPHNS). 

4.That this resolution be forwarded to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Finance, the Health Minister, AMO and to municipalities that currently have an operating consumption and treatment service and/or supervised consumption site(s).

1. That Guelph City Council opposes the use of the Notwithstanding Clause as requested by a collection of Ontario Mayors, to circumvent the courts ability to rule on Charter Rights on the subject of encampment relocations due to municipal bylaws throughout Ontario. 
2. Further, Council opposes the use of force in involuntary treatment of people with substance use disorders or mental illness who are protected under disability legislation, outside of the existing process. 
3. That a letter be sent to AMO, OBCM, and the 12 municipalities included in the 13 mayor request letter for information regarding Guelph Council’s opposition. 

Councillor Caton raised a point of order suggesting that a question from Councillor Downer was out of order because this motion was not about the use of involuntary treatment.  Mayor Guthrie ruled that the question was in order and allowed Councillor Downer to continue. 

2. Further, Council opposes the use of the notwithstanding clause in the use of force in involuntary treatment of people with substance use disorders or mental illness who are protected under disability legislation, outside of the existing process. 

This amendment was withdrawn by the mover and seconder. 

2.Further, Council opposes the use of force in involuntary treatment of people with substance use disorders or mental illness who are protected under disability legislation, outside of the existing process. 

This clause was removed by the mover and seconder. 

1. That Guelph City Council opposes the use of the Notwithstanding Clause as requested by a collection of Ontario Mayors, to circumvent the courts ability to rule on Charter Rights on the subject of encampment relocations due to municipal bylaws throughout Ontario.  
2. That a letter be sent to AMO, OBCM, and the 12 municipalities included in the 13 mayor request letter for information regarding Guelph Council’s opposition. 

The clauses were asked to be voted on separately. 

1. That Guelph City Council opposes the use of the Notwithstanding Clause as requested by a collection of Ontario Mayors, to circumvent the courts ability to rule on Charter Rights on the subject of encampment relocations due to municipal bylaws throughout Ontario.

2. That a letter be sent to AMO, OBCM, and the 12 municipalities included in the 13 mayor request letter for information regarding Guelph Council’s opposition. 

1. Therefore, be it resolved that the City Guelph supports Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) SolvetheCrisis.ca Campaign;
2. AND calls on the provincial and federal governments to commit to immediate action to solve the humanitarian crisis that Ontario is facing as the numbers of unhoused individuals and those suffering with mental health & addictions grows exponentially; 
3. AND that the province officially makes Homelessness a Health Priority;
4. AND that the province appoints a responsible Minister and Ministry with the appropriate funding and powers as the single point of contact to address the full spectrum of housing needs and equally as important, the mental health, addictions and wrap around supports that must be put resourced and put in place;
5. AND that the provincial government strike a task force with broad sector representatives including municipalities, regions, healthcare, first responders, community services, the business community and the tourism industry to develop a Made in Ontario Action Plan;
6. AND that this provincial task force reviews the current programs and policies developed by municipalities, regions and community partners that have proven successful in our communities, as well as programs and policies proposed by various stakeholders, to evaluate their effectiveness, ability to be scaled up, and to ensure that a variety of solutions are available, as there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and can be implemented quickly and effectively to tackle this crisis;
7. AND that the federal government is included in these conversations;
8. AND that both levels of government provide adequate, sufficient and sustainable funding to ensure that municipalities have the tools and resources to support individuals suffering with mental health and addictions, including unhoused people and those from vulnerable populations that may be disproportionately impacted;
9. And that this Council calls on the residents of the City of Guelph to join us in appealing to the provincial and federal governments for support by visiting SolvetheCrisis.ca and showing your support;
10. AND further that a copy of this motion be sent to:
    • The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
    • The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities of Canada
    • The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
    • The Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
    • The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
    • The Honourable Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
    • The Honourable Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
    • Local MPs
    • Local MPPs and
    • Ontario’s Big City Mayors ([email protected] and [email protected]) 

5. AND that the provincial government strike a task force with the broad sector representatives including municipalities, regions, healthcare, first responders, community services, the business community and the tourism industry and people with living experience of homelessness and substance abuse disorders to develop a Made in Ontario action plan.

5.AND that the provincial government strike a task force with the broad sector representatives including municipalities, regions, healthcare, first responders, community services, the business community and the tourism industry and people with living experience of homelessness and substance abuse disorders to develop a Made in Ontario action plan.

1. Therefore, be it resolved that the City Guelph supports Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) SolvetheCrisis.ca Campaign;
2. AND calls on the provincial and federal governments to commit to immediate action to solve the humanitarian crisis that Ontario is facing as the numbers of unhoused individuals and those suffering with mental health & addictions grows exponentially; 
3. AND that the province officially makes Homelessness a Health Priority;
4. AND that the province appoints a responsible Minister and Ministry with the appropriate funding and powers as the single point of contact to address the full spectrum of housing needs and equally as important, the mental health, addictions and wrap around supports that must be put resourced and put in place;
5. AND that the provincial government strike a task force with the broad sector representatives including municipalities, regions, healthcare, first responders, community services, the business community and the tourism industry and people with living experience of homelessness and substance abuse disorders to develop a Made in Ontario action plan.
6. AND that this provincial task force reviews the current programs and policies developed by municipalities, regions and community partners that have proven successful in our communities, as well as programs and policies proposed by various stakeholders, to evaluate their effectiveness, ability to be scaled up, and to ensure that a variety of solutions are available, as there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and can be implemented quickly and effectively to tackle this crisis;
7. AND that the federal government is included in these conversations;
8. AND that both levels of government provide adequate, sufficient and sustainable funding to ensure that municipalities have the tools and resources to support individuals suffering with mental health and addictions, including unhoused people and those from vulnerable populations that may be disproportionately impacted;
9. And that this Council calls on the residents of the City of Guelph to join us in appealing to the provincial and federal governments for support by visiting SolvetheCrisis.ca and showing your support;
 10. AND further that a copy of this motion be sent to:

• • The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
  • The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities of Canada
  • The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
  • The Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health 
  • The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
  • The Honourable Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
  • The Honourable Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
  • Local MPs
  • Local MPPs and
  • Ontario’s Big City Mayors ([email protected] and [email protected]) 
    
    

It was requested that clauses 5 and 6 be voted on separately. 

5. AND that the provincial government strike a task force with the broad sector representatives including municipalities, regions, healthcare, first responders, community services, the business community and the tourism industry and people with living experience of homelessness and substance abuse disorders to develop a Made in Ontario action plan.
6. AND that this provincial task force reviews the current programs and policies developed by municipalities, regions and community partners that have proven successful in our communities, as well as programs and policies proposed by various stakeholders, to evaluate their effectiveness, ability to be scaled up, and to ensure that a variety of solutions are available, as there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and can be implemented quickly and effectively to tackle this crisis;

1. Therefore, be it resolved that the City Guelph supports Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM) SolvetheCrisis.ca Campaign;
2. AND calls on the provincial and federal governments to commit to immediate action to solve the humanitarian crisis that Ontario is facing as the numbers of unhoused individuals and those suffering with mental health & addictions grows exponentially; 
3. AND that the province officially makes Homelessness a Health Priority;
4. AND that the province appoints a responsible Minister and Ministry with the appropriate funding and powers as the single point of contact to address the full spectrum of housing needs and equally as important, the mental health, addictions and wrap around supports that must be put resourced and put in place;
7. AND that the federal government is included in these conversations;
8. AND that both levels of government provide adequate, sufficient and sustainable funding to ensure that municipalities have the tools and resources to support individuals suffering with mental health and addictions, including unhoused people and those from vulnerable populations that may be disproportionately impacted;
9. And that this Council calls on the residents of the City of Guelph to join us in appealing to the provincial and federal governments for support by visiting SolvetheCrisis.ca and showing your support;
 10. AND further that a copy of this motion be sent to:

• • The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
  • The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities of Canada
  • The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario
  • The Honourable Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health 
  • The Honourable Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
  • The Honourable Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
  • The Honourable Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
  • Local MPs
  • Local MPPs and
  • Ontario’s Big City Mayors ([email protected] and [email protected])